Electromechanical interlock mechanism



May 10; 1932. I Z b R 1,857,227

ELECTROMECHANI CAL INTERLOCK MECHANI SM Filed April 29, 1929 Sheets-Sheet .L

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May 10, 1932- .1. z. WINDER 1,357,227-

ELECTROMECHANICAL INTERLOCK MECHANISM Filed April 29. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT/OFFICE JOSEPH z. WINIDER, or RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO RICHMOND rmar'noor noon compan or RICHMOND, INDIANA,,A CORPORATION or INDIANA ELEorRoMEcHAnIcAr; InrEnLocx MECHANISM Application filed April 29, 1929.' Serial No. 358,894.

The objectofmy present invention, broadly stated, is the provision of an electro-mechanical interlock mechanism which is especially intended to be employed in connection 5 with counterbalanced vertically telescoping elevator doors, the same being comparatively simple in character, strong and durable in construction, positive in its actions andits results, entirely: automatic in its operations,

in with its several movements gravitationally actuated, and which can be manufactured, sold, and installed at a comparatively low price. 7

- A further object ofthis inventionis the is provision of an electromechanical interlock mechanism which will fully meet the most exacting requirements of underwriters and the most rigid laws of all States and foreign countries for the control of fire hazards and so theprevention of accidents, and at the same time meeting the approval of architects and builders.

However the main object, more specifically stated, is to provide means,.in combina- 2:; tion withvertically movable doors, whereby no door of an elevator-shaft, where my in vention is employed, can be opened except when the floor of the elevator which is operative in the elevator shaft where my invenw tion is employed, is on a level, or nearly so, with a particular floor of the building in which the elevator-car operates;.and when said-door is open-ed, or released, then it will be impossible for the elevator-car to be oper- HJ ated until such time as the door is closed and locked.

And, finally, my object is to provide an electro-mechanical interlock mechanism to be employed'in connection with elevators, which 'will operate automatically. and gravitationallyand also electrically, wherein the chances of error will be infinitesimal and practically nil, and all'without the necessity of any part ofthe mechanism being delicate or precise.

Other subsidiary and particular objects and advantages of this invention will be brought outin the course of the following description, and that which is new will be correlated in the claims which terminate this specification.

One manner of carrying out the principles of this invention in a practical and economically efiiclent manner isshown in the accompany two sheets of drawings, 1n which Figure 1 shows a face view of theinterlock mechanism in unlocked position, the-lid of the case being omitted, and showinga portion ofa door to be connected therewith. Figure 2 is also a face view of the same, but showing the mechanism in itslocking posibottomplan view of the locking-dog. Figure 7 is a perspective detail of the securing end portion of the latch-bar, and Figure 8 is an isometrical view of the rear side, the top, and

the left-handedge, of the interlock case alone. a

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and themany advantages of this invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, even by the inexpert, I will now take upa detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as fully and as comprehensively as I may be able to do.

- The invention proper comprises the body of a case, or container, 1, formed preferably of-inetal, the same having a detachable lid 2. Said, case and its lid should be lined throughout with insulation,-such as mica, or

the left) from the base 3 are the two contactposts 4 and 5, each having a smooth contact face, which faces are in vertical alinement witheach other, as shown in Fig. 1.

w tlon. Figure 3 1s arlght-hand edge view of Threaded into the sides of the posts 4 and 5 "are the respective flat-shouldered screws 6 near its upper end, is theupper notch 14;

and a short distance therebelow is the lower notch 15. Said notches extend from near the back of the case outward through the left side thereof, that is to the lid 2, as is shown in Fig. 1. 7

Located near the top of the inside of the case 1, and in the center horizontally thereof, is a flat-headed pivot-screw 16, which is threaded into the back of the case ,1, and extends to near the top 2. Pivotally mounted on the screw 16 is the locking-dog 17, which projects out through the notch 14, and whose outer portion is offset forward, as shown at 17:12 in Fig. 6.

' Extending dov vnward from the undersid e of the outer portion of the dog 17 IS a sharpened angular nib 17, which has an inwardly directed shoulder 17", at right-angles to the dog 17, and an angular face 17a extending outward and upward from the edge of the nib to near the outer end of the dog 17, as is shown in Fig. 1. Said dog 17 is adapted to swing up and down, turning on the pivot 16. Formed through the back ofthe case 1,'in the upper left corner thereof, is a vertical slot'18, and on each side thereof is a'bracket 19, which brackets extend rearward from the back of the case, as is-shown in Fig. 3. A pivot 20 extends across and connects the two brackets 19. An arm 21 is located between said brackets and it is movable on the pivot 20, and it extends upward above the case 1, and below the pivot 20 the'arm 21 projects downward forming a' finger 21"to contact with the back of the case 1, in order to prevent the arm 21 from swinging rearward beyond a certain point. Indice 21 denotes a cam which projects inward, from the arm 21, through the slot 18, and its inner rounded 'portion is adapted to engage the underside of the dog 17, for the purpose of raising it.

'Rigidly but adjustably secured to the upper end of the arm 21, and normally forming an upward and forward continuation thereof, is a three-part extension arm, consisting of the members 22, 23 and 24, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper or outer extension member 24 is formed forked and in 1 which is revolvably mounted the roller 25.

Located near the center, horizontally, of the interior of the case 1, and in the lower part thereof, is a fiat-headed pivot screw 26, which extends from the backof the case, in which it is secured, to near the lid 2 of the case.

Numeral 27' denotes the angular contactarm,whose lower end is pivotally mounted on the pivot 26, from which it extends upwardly and then outwardly, through the notch 15, and terminates in the head 27, which latter has a-double-diverging channel 27 formed in its face, as shown in Fig. 1.

Secured to the ri'ght hand edge of the lower portion of the arm 27 is a bakelite insulator 28, which is located opposite the like insulator 3, and projecting to theright from the center thereof is a square steinv 29, which stem extends loosely througha square slot in the connecting-bar 30. An expansive coilspring 31 surrounds the stem 29 and is-located between the insulator 28 and the bar 30 and presses the bar 30 against the pin 32, which is secured and projects from each side of the stem 29. By this arrangement it'is apparent that when the arm 27 has been moved to the right, to its limit, that the bar 30'will electrically connect the posts 4 and 5, and by the pivotal mounting of the bar30 the pressure thereof upon the posts 4 and5 will be equalized and positive.

t is to be understood that the shape and the particular mounting of the arm 27 is such that in addition to'its normal function of turning on and off the electric circuit at the proper time it also provides a protection or safety element in the event of an accident which might, for instance, be the breaking of the dog 19 should it be jammed by the latchebar or otherwise, which would thereby release the arm 27 which, when so released, will move by. gravity 'to position whereby the electric circuit will be broken.

The case 1 and the mechanism above described are secured to the flanges of the members A and B of a vertically extending door guide rail which is located at the side of the door opening and usually extends from the top to the bottom of the elevator shaft. The said case 1 isattached by means of the bolts 33 and 34 which are inserted through openings in the respective lugs 12 and 13 and corresponding 'openings' through the flanges of the members A-and B. Letter 0 denotes a portion of a door for the door opening in the elevator'shaftand which is adapted to slide up and down to open and close its respective door opening in the wall at its floor. Said door is provided with a latch-bar 35, which extends to the right from the central portion of the door. However a second latch bar 36 may be employed, if

ment with the pivot 38, extend from the base of the lever 37, as shown, and said fingers are pivoted to the end portions of the respective latch-bars and. 36, whereby the operation of-said lever will move the'two latch-bars horizontally in directions opposite to each other. Said latch-bars are normally forced toward their respective interlocks by means of one or more springs 39 which are attached at one end to the latch-bars and at their other ends to the door C, but under proper tension. humeral 4O denotes an angular bracket located belowand. adjoining the lower edge of the notch 15, and it tapers downwardly therefrom, with theend of the latch-bar 35 adapted to engage therewith as the door C is being closed.

The upper corner of the latch-bar 35 is rounded whereby it may slidably engage the an ular face of the bracket 40.

notch 35 is formed in the upper edge of the latch-bar 35 and adjoining said rounded corner, whereby a tooth 35 is formed, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose herein stated. 1 I

A pintle 41 is rigidly secured and extends at right-angles to and from the back-side of,

the bar 35, and is located at a point slightly below the tooth 35, and it is adapted tovslide freely in the channel 27 above mentioned. Numeral 42 designates a cam which is to be carried by an elevator which travels up and down through the elevator shaft and passing the doors of the various floors in its transits. i f The said elevator is operated by an electric motor which obtains its power current from the line wire,;portions of which are indicated by numerals 8 and 9. I

Letter D denotes the wall, and E denotes the door opening formed in said wall, and which is adapted to be opened and closed by the door C, and other like-opening and doors are at each floor.

Perhaps the most important single feature of this invention, and that which makes it mechanically positive and efficient, is the lug or pintle 41 which is carried integrally by the latch-bar 35, and by a like one by all of the latch-bars of the particular system. Said pintle 41, when in the channel 27" formed in the head 27 of the contact-arm 27, not only actuates the arm 2? to make and break the electric current, but it prevents the door from being opened until the latchbar is moved downward, as above set forth. And, therefore, without this pintle 41, or its equivalent the interlock mechanism would be inoperative and practically nil.

Operation. It is to be understood that at 'erable' either from the elevator shaft side ofparentthat the door C can not be opened but:

least one of my interlockmechanismssis to. be

placed at the side of eachdoor of an elevator shaft, where it will be available to a latchbar 35, or 36, for instance, the'sameto be [opthe door or by a person on the outer side of the door which latter is accomplished by meansof an exteriorhandle mounted on the pivot 38 andextending through the door.

If, now, thedoor C be closed, that is closing the door opening Eat its particular floor level, then the various parts of the interlock mechanism will have assumed the positions shown'in Fig. 2,- In this position it is apat the same time the wires 8 and 9 will be electricallyconnected and all of the interlocks of that particular system will likewise be in the same relative position, therefore it is evident that the electric circuit through the motorin the elevator will be closed so that the elevator may be'operated up :or down as desired, but at thistime nodoor Cat any floor can be opened.

' As the elevator arrives at each floor, successively, thecam 42 will engage the roller 25, forcing the arm 21 to the right and thereby lifting the finger 21., and'causing it to lift the dog 17 and thereby releasing the latch-bar 35,

but if the bar35is not then released,'by moving its end downward, then the arm 27 will not bereleased', consequently the electric circuit will not be broken, as the pintle 41 is still located in the channel 27 and therefore will hold the arm 27 to the right with the bar 30 still connecting the posts 4 and 5. Andif the elevator be moved upward or downward then the roller 25 willbe released and the nib 17' will. drop back into the notch 35",.thereby againlocking the door asbefore.

From the above it is apparent that the door C, or the like door of. any other floor of the particular system, can be opened only when. the elevator car of that system is at that door. Now, if instead ofthe elevator car-passingh the door C, as above hypotheticated, it should i stop there, then it is apparent that as the dog 17 is then raised. the lever 37 may then be turned, which will move thelatch-bar'35 to the left, carrying with it the upper end of the arm 27, as the pintle 41 will be inthe channel The end of the bar35 may then be moved down, either by the. operator or by gravity, thereby enabling the door (l to be opened. It should also be observed that asi the latch-bar 35 is moved slightly to the left, as above stated, that the .movement of the arm 27 therewith, to the position in which it is shown in Fig.1. willwithdraw the bar 30 from contact with t he posts 4 and 5, thereby i breaking the electric circuit through the wires 8-9, whereby there will be no power delivered to the elevatormotor and consequently the elevator can not be operated while the door C, orany other'door of. that elevator shaft, is open or even partly opened, therefore the elevator can not move while any door of that system is open.

Now when one starts to close the door C the "latch-bar 35 will first engage the bracket 40, that is the rounded portion of the tooth 35 will engage the angular face of said bracket, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and 'as the bar moves upward toward locking position, the pintle ll will be guided into the channel 27". Then as the bar is moved to the right, to its limit, by means of the lever37, it is evident that the arm 27 will be pushed to the right thereby contacting the bar with the posts 4- and 5 completing the electric circuit and permitting the elevator to be moved by its motor. And as the elevator moves up, or down,lfrom this particular door the cam 42 V will be removed from the roller 25, allowing the arm 21 to swing gravitationally to the left,

thereby permitting the dog 17 to gravitate to horizontal position with the nib 17 dropping into the notch which will lock the bar 35 whereby the door C can not be opened and also maintainingthe electric circuit between the wires 8 and 9.

It is evident that the same things, as above described, may occur at any door of that elevator shaft. i

'0 I would have it understoodthat various changes maybe made in details of construc- -35 the advantages thereof which are new and useful and which involve invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An electro mechanical interlock mechanism comprising a case, a control-arm pivoted at its lower end in said case and extending upwardly and then outwardly through a slot in said case and adapted to operate automatically by gravity, when it is released, to break an electric circuit, a head forming the outer'end portion of said arm and having a channel-formed vertically in one side of said head, a fixed insulator attached in said case, a pair of spaced-apart posts carried by the fixed insulator, wires attached to said posts and forming parts of an electric circuit for operating a motor, an insulator movable with said arm, aconnecting-bar loosely connected to said last mentioned insulator and adapted to be contacted with said posts to complete the electric circuit through said wires, a door, a latch bar carried by the door, means whereby the operation of the latch-bar will operate said control-arm to connect and disconnect said bar with relation to said posts, a dog pivoted in said case and adapted mtg lock the latch-bar in securing position, and

means for automatically placing said dog in securing and releasing position.

and break said circuit,a channel carried by sald arm, a latch carried by said door and operable from either side of said door, a dog adapted to lock said latch in its securing POSltiOIl at all times when the elevator-is not opposite thereto and at the same time retaining said arm in position to'complete the electric circuit through said motor, automatic means for releasing said'dog from the latch when the elevator is opposite to said door, a pintle carried by said latch and extending therefrom at right-angles thereto and adapted to engage in said channel carried by said arm to move said arm to positions to mechanically make and break said circuit.

3. In an electro-mechanical interlock mechanism having spaced apart Wires forming part of an electric circuit for operating an elevator, a contact plate for connecting and disconnecting said wires, a swinging arm carrying said plate, a head formed on the free end of said arm with a channel formed in the side of said head, a manually operable latchbar adapted to be operated at the side of said head, and a pintle extending from the side of said latch-bar and operable in said channel for controlling the movements of said arm.

4. Anelectro-mechanical interlock mechanism including an arm pivoted at its lower end with its upper end adapted to swing laterally, a head formed on the upper portion of said arm and having a vertical channel in its face, a horizontally movable bar having its free end portion located near said head, a pintle carried rigidly by said end portion of the bar and adapted to operate in said channel in the head or to be removed therefrom, means, when it is removed, for'guiding said pintle into said channel where it will swing said arm when said bar is moved laterally, for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination with an electric circuit, a locking and switching mechanism comprising an armpivoted at one end with its other end adapted to swing 1aterally to make and break said circuit, a head formed on the free end portion of said arm with a double diverging substantially vertical channel formed inthe face thereof, a latch, a pintle carried by said latch and extending therefrom at substantially right-angles thereto and adapted to engage in said channel in the face of said head wherebysaid arm may be moved by said latch such as to cause it to make or break said circuit, a dog adapted to automatically engage said latch to lock the latch against movement and at the same time looking said arm in position to maintain the electric circuit, and means for automatically removing said dog from engagement with said latch whereby the latch may be removed and simultaneously the said arm will shift by gravityt0- position whereby the electric circuit will be broken.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH Z. WINDER. 

